Order under section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961
Section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’) read with Rule 6G of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 (‘the Rules’) requires prescribed persons to furnish the Tax Audit Report along with the prescribed particulars in Form No. 3CD. The existing Form No. 3CD was amended vide Notification No. GSR 666(E) dated 20th July, 2018 with effect from 20th August, 2018.
Representations have been received by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) that the implementation of reporting requirements under the proposed Clause 30C (pertaining to General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR)) and proposed Clause 44 (pertaining to Goods and Services Tax (GST) compliance) of the Form No. 3CD may be deferred.
The matter has been examined and it has been decided by the Board that reporting under the proposed clause 30C and proposed clause 44 of the Tax Audit Report shall be kept in abeyance till 31st March, 2019. Therefore, for Tax Audit Reports to be furnished on or after 20th August, 2018 but before 1st April, 2019, the tax auditors will not be required to furnish details called for under the said clause 30C and clause 44 of the Tax Audit Report.
Draft notification Section 197 of the Income-tax Act, 1961
Section 197 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 („the Act‟) contains provisions enabling the Assessing Officer („AO‟) to give the assessee a certificate for deduction of income-tax at any lower rates or no deduction of income-tax, if he is satisfied, upon an application made by the assessee in this behalf, that the total income of the recipient justifies no deduction or deduction at lower rates. Similarly, sub-sections section 206C of the Act contain provisions enabling the AO to give a certificate for collection at lower rate if he is satisfied and upon an application made by the assessee in this behalf. Further, rules 28, 28AA & 28AB, 37G & 37H and Form No. 13 have been inserted in the Income-tax Rules, 1962 („the Rules‟) to specify the form and manner in which the application for grant of the certificate for lower rate of deduction or collection or no deduction may be made.
It is felt that the existing Form No. 13 and relevant rules are required to be rationalised. Hence, in order to rationalise and make the process of issuance of certificate for no deduction of tax or deduction/collection of tax at lower rate electronic, the existing Form No.13 and relevant rules are required to be amended. Accordingly, certain amendments in Form No. 13, and rules 28, 28AA, 28AB, 37G and 37H of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 are proposed.